CNN courts the YouTube generation by partnering with Casey Neistat

CNN is preparing its second major effort to appeal to a younger generation of news consumers. And this time it’s tapping one of YouTube’s biggest stars.

CNN is teaming up with Casey Neistat to launch a new standalone company that will use smartphones to create video content.

As part of the move, CNN is buying Neistat’s Beme app, which launched in July 2015. CNN did not disclose the terms of the deal.

The Beme app will be shut down in the coming weeks while the rest of the company will fold into the new venture owned by CNN. Matt Hackett, the chief technology officer of Beme and formerly the head of engineering at Tumblr, will help lead the new company. Read more…